Development of "Attending and Observing" Virtual Trainer Robot for Crutch Walk Training

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26750236
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Wakayama National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: TSUDA Naoaki 和歌山工業高等専門学校, 知能機械工学科, 准教授 (40409793)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 松葉杖歩行 / 福祉・介護用ロボット / 動作教示 / 動作計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Improper usages of crutches can cause a secondary accident like a falling. In order to prevent such accidents, it is expected that crutch users practice crutch walks. In this research, an instruction robot for crutch walk training called "Attending and Observing Robot" was developed. This robot moves along a walking crutch user, and it measures his/her body parts motions. Based on the measurements, the robot provides advices to the crutch user about proper walk motions. By using this robot for trainings, the crutch user can review his/her own walk motions. It was confirmed through experiments that the crutch walk training with this robot improved the crutch user's walk motions.

Free Research Field

人間医工学